DENVER — Let’s play along with Sean Payton.
He has yet to name Bo Nix his starting quarterback in a week when four of the five other first-round quarterbacks in this year’s draft already know their fate.
Maybe the Broncos head coach will announce Nix as his choice Wednesday. Or perhaps Payton is deliberating whether to give Nix more game reps in the preseason finale Sunday afternoon against the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field at Mile High.
Heading into this week, bringing Nix along to where he seems ready to become the Broncos’ No. 1 quarterback seemingly followed Payton’s patient script to perfection.
“I don’t know that I laid out a script,’’ Payton said following Nix’s dazzling performance Sunday in a preseason contest against the Packers’ No. 2 defense. “Look, we’re trying to develop and teach and coach. We’re trying to get these guys stuff they do well. Part of our job is to understand their strengths and then try to build upon them. I think he’s done a good job of working, digesting it and really heading into the game, looking at the gameplan. … Yeah, but it’s going well. We’re not there, yet.”
Not there, yet. Define, ‘not there, yet.’ Is Nix in a place where he’s ready to defeat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs six times out of 10 for the AFC West title? Probably not. Who is ready to outplay Mahomes six out of 10?
But is Nix ready to outplay Geno Smith in 19 days and Russell Wilson in 26? To those observing outside Broncos’ headquarters, it appears Nix is ready for such a challenge. But maybe Payton wants to deliberate and watch Bo play just a little bit more in one more preseason game.
Until Payton erases the final morsel of doubt, let’s take a look at the Broncos’ three quarterbacks – Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson -- heading into the preseason finale Sunday with their statistics and points scored while they were playing:
Bo Nix
Preseason stats: 23 of 30, 205 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT, 116.7 RTG; 30 points
It’s not just that Nix has been good. It’s that Payton has made sure Nix has played well through the game plan and play sequence. A running game was established first. In each of Nix’s preseason appearances, a first down off two running back carries occurred prior to his first passing attempt.
The defense properly set up, Nix then started dealing, completing 15 of 21 at Indianapolis and 8 of 9 against the Packers.
“I think it’s a really good fit,’’ Nix said after his sublime performance Sunday. “Especially tonight, I came out here and was very comfortable with the first few plays that were called. They were kind of keeping it within my comfort level, and that’s huge, especially for someone’s who’s trying to get in there and execute. You want to run plays that you feel comfortable with, and that’s what coach Payton was calling tonight.’’
Deferring to his elders, Stidham and Wilson, in the QB competition, Nix said it’s “not for me to decide,” whether he’s done enough to earn the starting job.
Good answer.
Jarret Stidham
Preseason stats: 11 of 18, 92 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 34.7 RTG, 7 points
Stidham could use some better luck. He had one short-field possession and converted by running over a Packer defender for an 8-yard touchdown.
Otherwise, offensive penalties stopped at least two of his drives and his two interceptions were both deflections – one off running back Samaje Perine’s hands and the other by a Packer defensive lineman.
Stidham had the pole position in the QB competition through the entire offseason and first week of training camp.
But then Nix started making his move about eight days prior to the Broncos’ first preseason game at Indy. It’s now clear to those outside Broncos headquarters Stidham is No. 2 – although he’s not conceding.
“I’m not going to get caught up in what’s what or what it is or what it isn’t,’’ Stidham said. “I’m focusing on every single day, what I can do to be the guy and that sort of thing.”
Regardless of the financial ramifications from his $6 million, mostly non-guaranteed pay out in 2024, it does make sense to keep Stidham as the No. 2 quarterback as he’s been more consistent than Wilson.
Zach Wilson
Preseason stats: 12 of 19, 146 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 104.3 RTG, 24 points
The former New York Jet didn’t play well early in camp and was downgraded to the No. 3 offense. He then started playing much better, his improvement capped by his encouraging effort against the Colts in the first preseason game. But Wilson didn’t have it Sunday against the Packers when it was No. 3 on No. 3.
Wilson may be running third out of three in the QB race but between his tantalizing talent and fully guaranteed $2.73 million, the team may keep three quarterbacks on its season-opening, 53-man roster.
“Whether you said it’s starters or backups, the gap between guys is very slim,’’ Wilson said after his outing Sunday. “It’s a tough league, and it’s the best of the best.”